Community Programs and Health Education

Learn more about Sharp's community programs, sponsorships and health education.

American Heart Association Heart Walk
Breast Cancer Patient Navigator Program
Community Health Worker Education Program
Complementary Therapies
December Nights
Diabetes Education
Domestic Violence Task Force
Hablando de la Salud de la Mujer
Health Care Career Pipeline Partnership (HCCPP)
Health Sciences High and Middle College (HSHMC)
Hospice Care
Senior Resource Centers
Speaking of Women's Health
Stroke Smart Education and Screening Programs
Think First! – Comprehensive Injury Prevention for Children

American Heart Association Heart Walk
Sharp HealthCare is a proud supporter of the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk. In 2009, more than 900 walkers represented Sharp at the San Diego Heart Walk held at Balboa Park and raised nearly $130,000 for the American Heart Association.

Breast Cancer Patient Navigator Program
Patient navigators guide breast cancer patients through the health care system and connect them to services that will improve their physical and emotional well being during treatment. Navigators also connect patients with other services offered at the hospital and in the community including nutrition services, physical therapy and support groups.

For many patients, issues such as lack of insurance, transportation concerns, child care, financial resources or language barriers may keep them from getting needed care or interfere with treatment. Sharp HealthCare’s bilingual (English/Spanish) patient navigators will help to break these barriers by connecting patients to community and hospital programs to address these concerns.

For more information about the program, contact Angiolina Vasquez at 619-502-5364 or angiolina.vasquez@sharp.com.

Community Health Worker Education Program
Community health workers (CHWs or promotores) are individuals who work in community settings and serve as connectors between health care consumers and providers like Sharp HealthCare to promote health education among groups that have traditionally lacked access to adequate care. For more information about scheduling, a presentation please contact multicultural.services@sharp.com.

Complementary Therapies
Sharp Coronado Hospital offers complementary therapies that may be used in combination with other conventional or alternative medicines. These holistic healing methods are used to relieve symptoms and improve overall quality of life. Massage therapy, acupuncture and Healing Touch are all offered as part of the Sharp Coronado Experience. Learn more about complementary therapies and how to schedule an appointment.

December Nights
Sharp is a proud sponsor of Balboa Park’s December Nights. In 2009, the two-day event drew more than 300,000 visitors. Sharp provided blood glucose, blood pressure and body mass index/body fat percentage screenings to visitors as well as free giveaways and information about Sharp services.

Diabetes Education
Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death among Americans, and the fifth leading cause of death from disease. It is estimated that more than 2 million residents of California have diabetes. In 2005, 1.5 million new cases were diagnosed in people 20 years of age and older.

There is also an overwhelming health concern for Latinos, who are twice as likely as non-Latinos to develop diabetes, and at a much earlier age. A quarter of Latinos have diabetes by age 45, which dramatically increases to one in every three people by age 64.

Diabetes services are offered at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Sharp Memorial Hospital and clinics throughout San Diego County via Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group. In addition, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center offers free monthly diabetes support groups in Spanish to meet the needs of the border community.

For more information about Sharp's diabetes programs, please visit our Diabetes Services section or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277).

Domestic Violence Task Force
Help is available for victims of family violence. Visit Sharp's Domestic Violence Resources section for more information.

Hablando de la Salud de la Mujer
Sharp is a proud host of Speaking of Women’s Health Foundation's annual Latina’s health conference, Hablando de la Salud de la Mujer^TM (Speaking of Women's Health), which provides important health information to Latinas in San Diego. Visit Hablando de la Salud de la Mujer to learn more about the annual conference.

Health Care Career Pipeline Partnership (HCCPP)
As patient populations grow, the need for physicians, nurses and other health care professionals is critical. In 2008, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center created the Health Care Career Pipeline Partnership (HCCPP) which provides high school students, who are interested in a career in health care, the opportunity to experience how health care is delivered. HCCPP offers one-on-one mentoring, internship and scholarship opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds in order to help them achieve successful careers in the heath care industry. Visit Health Care Career Pipeline Partnership to learn more about this program.

Health Sciences High and Middle College (HSHMC)
Sharp HealthCare has teamed up as an industry partner with newly formed charter school, Health Sciences High and Middle College (HSHMC), to provide students with a broad exposure to careers available in health care. HSHMC students will earn high school diplomas, complete college entrance requirements and have opportunities to earn community college credits, degrees or vocational certificates. Sharp is linking students with health care professionals through job shadowing and internships to explore real-world applications of their school-based knowledge and skills. Currently, HSHMC students are on the campuses of Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital.

Visit Health Sciences High and Middle College or contact Sherri North at 858-278-8566 ext. 225 for more information.

Hospice Care
Sharp HospiceCare is a not-for-profit organization that provides comprehensive end-of-life care and compassionate support for people with a life-limiting illness and their loved ones. For more information, please visit the Sharp HospiceCare section or call 619-667-1900 or toll-free at 1-800-681-9188.

Senior Resource Center
The professionals at the Sharp Senior Resource Centers provide seniors, family members and caregivers with information about Sharp HealthCare services, as well as referrals to other resources in the community. Free or low-cost activities offered include health screenings, lectures and fitness classes.

The Sharp Senior Resource Centers are located at:

Learn more about the Sharp Senior Resource Centers and find upcoming classes and events.

Speaking of Women’s Health
Speaking of Women's Health^TM is a day-long health-education symposium aimed to address the specific health concerns of women. Visit Speaking of Women's Health for more information about the event.

Stroke Smart Education and Screening Programs
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US and the number one cause of disability in adults. In an effort to reduce the incidence and severity of stroke in the community, Sharp's Orthopedics (also spelled orthopaedics) and Neurosciences Department sponsors a community-based Stroke Smart Education and Screening Program.

Through the program, Sharp provides education to the community to learn the signs and symptoms of stroke and urges family, friends and neighbors to treat these signs and symptoms as an emergency. Community members learn to identify their particular risk factors for stroke and assists them in determining appropriate lifestyle changes.

If you would like to have a program presented to your service organization, club or senior center, please contact Beverly Downing at 858-939-3459. If you would like to register for one of the many events offered throughout the year, please call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277) for information on a program in your area.

Think First! — Comprehensive Injury Prevention for Children
Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among children in San Diego County. Statistics show that a disproportionate share of these costly and life-shattering injuries occurs in minority populations. San Diego has a large, ethnically diverse population. In order to reduce death and disability from unintentional injury, Sharp began educating students 11 years ago how to "think first" before participating in activities that may lead to such injuries.

Founded in 1986 by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurosurgeons, Think First! was initially directed at adolescents. In 1998, Sharp began teaching lower elementary school children in cities throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties the key messages of careful behavior for a myriad of activities, which include motor vehicle transportation, water sports, bicycling and recreational activities. Violence prevention is also addressed. The project is now nationally recognized.